The Baker Mayfield Watch extended well into Tuesday afternoon, but the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Oklahoma made it to Mobile in time for the first Reese's Senior Bowl North team practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Mayfield -- the first reigning Heisman winner at the Senior Bowl since Ohio State's Troy Smith in 2007 -- missed Tuesday's National Scouting Weigh-in and Media Day session, leaving many to wonder if he would show up at all. Mayfield was said to be attending to a "family situation," which was later revealed to be his mother being hospitalized.

"Mom's not doing too great," Mayfield said. "Family first -- always. Doesn't matter what the situation was. I would never put myself before my mom. ... As soon as I found out I booked my flight home. ... Like I said, family first."

Mayfield is not the only hot quarterback draft prospect on the North team, where is joined by Josh Allen of Wyoming, whom ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has pegged as his pick to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns. Conversely, Pro Football Focus has Mayfield going with the first selection.

Following the North team practice, Mayfield was met with a crush of reporters usually reserved for Alabama coach Nick Saban during his annual visits to Mobile.

Part of Mayfield's mission in Mobile this week will be to dispel any character concerns NFL teams might have about him, including a highly publicized public intoxication arrest last February and multiple now-infamous instances of taunting opponents during games this past season. After practice Tuesday, Mayfield told those reporters close enough to hear his words that he rejected comparisons to another undersized, brash quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy, former Texas A&M star (and Cleveland Browns bust) Johnny Manziel.

"I want to show the type of guy I am. Everyone wants to portray (me) as a bad boy, the Johnny Manziel stuff," Mayfield said. "I love the game of football, there's no doubt about that. I'm an emotional player. I'll do anything it takes to win. I love being around my teammates, leading and having responsibilities. It is what it is. If I paid too much attention to it, I'd be focusing on the wrong things."

Mayfield is listed at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, though there are concerns he might be shorter than that. He is expected to be weighed and measured by Senior Bowl officials at some point later in the week. (UPDATE: The Senior Bowl released Mayfield's measurables late Wednesday night. He checked in at 6-foot 3/8, 216 pounds, with 9 1/2-inch hands).

North team coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos told reporters earlier Tuesday that Mayfield's height (or lack thereof) doesn't concern him. Those who see the Mayfield glass as half-full would rather compare him to successful quarterbacks his size such as Russell Wilson and Drew Brees.

No matter his size, Mayfield is inarguably one of the more highly productive players in college football history. In three seasons at Oklahoma and one at Texas Tech (he was a walk-on at both schools), he passed for 14,607 yards and 131 touchdowns, both totals which rank in the top 7 in FBS history.

And Mayfield certainly brings some attention to this year's Senior Bowl it might not otherwise have. Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage said Mayfield may have had a 'pied piper effect,' influencing other top draft prospects to sign on for the game.

"I think in terms of the publicity and the marketing of the event, I think it's significant," Savage said. "As Larry Brown, the long-time great basketball coach said, 'great players want to be around other great players.' When he committed to us, it made other players around the country say 'hey, Baker Mayfield is going. I need to be there.' So I think there's an additional impact in that regard."

The 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl takes place Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on the NFL Network.